Take Care of Your Lungs as Winter Prepares to Set Foot in Delhi & NCR

As the country prepares to go into the winter mode, Lung Specialists in Delhi & NCR prepare to tackle the increase in the number of Lung Disease patients. The capital and the National Capital Region are notorious for the high levels of air pollution. As the autumn wind dies to give way to the winters, the danger of pollutants near the ground and at breathing levels increase. According to WHO reports, Delhi has witnessed almost 30% rise in Lung Infections since 2010. India’s National Health Profile 2015 puts the total number of reported cases of acute respiratory infection in 2014 at 3.5 million. This is 140,000 more cases than 2013. India is also infamous as being the country with the highest number of deaths from Lung Diseases.        

Another scary fact, in the story of Delhi’s pollution, is the high increase in the levels of Particulate Matter (PM). These pollutants, after finding their way down the respiratory tract, have the capacity to lodge themselves deep in the Lungs. They are responsible for a variety of Lung Diseases like asthma, bronchitis, etc. Continuous exposure to PM is a known reason for the development of Lung Cancer. Dr. Himanshu Garg, a leading Lung Specialist of the country states, “We see a high increase in the number of patients at Respiratory & Sleep Cure Solutions during the winters. The static air, along with the onset of festivals, makes matters worse as the amount of pollutants in the breathing zone increases.”

Take ample care of your Lungs this winter. Any symptoms of Lung Infection should be promptly followed by a visit to a Lung Specialist. Play your role as a good citizen and keep away from fire crackers and open fires. It would be highly advisable for those already suffering from Lung Infections, especially asthma, to make a visit to their regular Lung Treatment Center.   

4 Lesser-Known Facts about Lung Cancer

Lung Cancer is diagnosed as the uncontrolled growth of cells in Lung tissues. We are familiar with the general facts involving Lung Cancer, like smoking tobacco being the most major cause of Lung Cancer. However, further research has brought to light more facts about the deadly disease. Let us discuss a few of them here.

Treatment Depends on the Stage

The type of Lung Cancer Treatment depends on the stage of the cancer. The stage, where the cancer is confined to only a certain part of the lung, is called stage 1. The rest of the stages depend on the extent, of spread, of the cancerous cells. Stage 4A and 4B are typically designated to episodes when the cancer has spread to other parts of the body. While stage 1 can be effectively treated with surgery, the later stages require more complex and expert treatment. This is why it is very important to visit a Lung Specialist at the slightest hints of the symptoms.

Genes Play a Role in the Response to Treatment

The role of genes in Lung Cancer Treatment was discovered only in recent years. This is another aspect which makes it a task for the experts. Treatment, which corresponds with the genes of the patient, will always yield faster results.

Female Cancer Patients are Increasing

It has been noted that recent decades have seen an alarming rise in the rate of Lung Cancer cases in women. However, thankfully, this rise in rate has been stabilized now. The rise was associated with a higher number of women taking to smoking.   

Include Fruits & Vegetables

Although it is still being researched, a lot of experts believe that fruits and vegetables can keep Lung Cancer at bay. Thus, we have another important reason for including the fruits and greens in our diet.

The above are a few facts about Lung Cancer which you might not have known. Even as research continues to find more effective Lung Cancer Treatment, even in its later stages, for now, your promptness in fixing that appointment with the Lung Specialist can play a vital role in saving you.   

What Role Is Played by the Lungs in Respiration?

The Lungs are the platform for the exchange between oxygen and carbon dioxide in the body. They are the most important organs in the process of respiration. The organs which form a part of the respiration system are the nose, throat, voice box, windpipe, and lungs. The Lungs play a part in the last and the most vital part of the respiration process. 

Once air reaches the Lungs through the throat, voice box, and the windpipe, the first activity, which takes place there, is the separation of oxygen from the other components of air. This separation and all further activities occur at the Alveoli, which are very small air sacs. The Alveoli is at the end of the smallest subdivisions of the bronchial tubes which connect the Lungs to the windpipe. These subdivisions are called Bronchioles. Thus, the Alveoli are the last destinations of the air we breathe in and they are lined by tiny blood vessels called capillaries. The separated oxygen then moves from the Alveoli to the capillaries, in a process called diffusion, after which they enter the blood stream. In the blood stream, the oxygen is then picked up by hemoglobin and carried to all the cells in the body. This process results in the formation of carbon dioxide, which is then dissolved in the plasma of the blood and carried back to the Alveoli. The Lungs come into play again and the carbon dioxide is pumped out during exhalation. This entire process happens involuntarily and about 12 to 15 times every minute.

For the process of respiration to take place properly, the Lungs have to continue expanding and contracting. The amount of oxygen which can be supplied to the body is directly dependent on the Lung capacity which is measured in terms of the amount of air which it can inhale and exhale. Keeping your Lungs healthy is thus the most important task for living a healthy life. Lung Specialists have time and again reiterated the importance of the steps necessary to keep your Lungs healthy. Make it a point to visit a Lung Specialist regularly in order to detect any abnormalities at the earliest. You owe that visit to the most vital organ which keeps you alive!         

Which are the Best Foods for Your Lungs?

Taking proper care of your Lungs is an important requirement for leading a healthy life. Aside from the medications prescribed by your Pulmonologist, a few foods have shown to have helpful effects for the Lungs. We present a few of them, which aids the Lungs in performing the vital function of life called respiration, here in this blog. Keep these in your regular diet to reduce the risk of Lung Diseases.

Apples

A British study showed that the risk of Asthma reduced by 32% in people who consumed 2 to 5 apples every week. The flavonoids, present in the apples, help open the airways and provide a better supply of air to the Lungs.

Fruits & Vegetables with Vitamin C

Fruits and vegetables, which have high amounts of Vitamin C, should also be a part of your diet. Vitamin C is an important antioxidant which fights the free radicals to keep your Lungs safe. Some of the fruits which contain Vitamin C in abundance are orange, broccoli, sprouts, tomatoes, etc.

Carrots  

Beta-carotene, found in carrots, is another strong antioxidant. Carrots are also beneficial for the overall immune system of the body and have been known to be helpful in case of Lung Diseases, especially Asthma.

Flax Seeds

Magnesium, present in flax seeds, has a relaxing effect on the bronchi muscles and keeps them open. The bronchi are the airways which lead to the Lungs and keeping them open is vital for uninterrupted respiration.

Garlic

Garlic has special status in the traditional treatment of a lot of diseases. Its anti-inflammatory properties can prove to be helpful in the smooth functioning of the respiration system. Garlic also contains Allicin, which is a powerful antioxidant.

Use the above foods in your diet so that your Lungs can continue to faithfully carry on the life function of respiration. Also, make that visit to a Lung Specialist or Pulmonologist a regular affair, just to be sure.   

Take Care of Your Lungs as the Weather Changes in Delhi & NCR

As Delhi & NCR moves towards the summers, there are bound to be instances of increase in chronic diseases. One of the most important categories of diseases, which are bound to strike the limelight in these changing conditions, is COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease). COPD and also other Lung Diseases like Asthma are often seen to flare up as the weather changes from hot to cold or in this case, cold to hot. Taking care of your lungs is an important task during this time of the year, especially so for those suffering from COPD.

Reasons for the Flare-up

When the air is hot, more effort has to be made to breathe it in. This extra effort triggers the symptoms of coughing, wheezing, and even breathlessness, thereby worsening COPD conditions. High winds are also prevalent during this time of the year and are responsible for bringing pollutants like dust, pollens, etc. to higher levels from where they can enter the body. These are often potential agents for triggering symptoms of Lung Diseases, especially in those who are allergic.

How to Safeguard Your Lungs?

The best thing to do, for COPD patients during this time, is to prevent the hot and humid outdoors during the daytime. However, we all know that this is easier said than done. In cases, when outdoor visits are absolutely must, it is advisable to limit the hours spent under the straight sun. Keep your body refreshed by drinking lots of fluids. Spend as much as time as possible in places with regulated temperatures and clean air. Also, keep a close watch on the amount of work you are doing so as not to fatigue yourself.

Apart from the above tips, it is also very important to keep the contact number of your Lung Specialist close by. Do not hesitate to fix an appointment if you feel the need to do so. Considering the fast rate, at which the weather in the capital region is turning fickle, and the high levels of pollution, regular visits to the Lung Specialist may quite well prove to be a lifesaving decision.